Restraining Orders, Alleged Kidnappings and Hit with a Car: A Marriage of Accusations

August 13, 2014

Eric says his two-year marriage to his now-estranged wife, Melissa, has been like “living a nightmare.” He claims Melissa is violent and even hit him with his car, and the police have been called to their home at least eight times. Melissa completely disagrees and says she’s the real victim. She claims Eric raped, kidnapped and abused her — allegations he denies. Dr. Phil sorts through the accusations — can he get to the root of the problem?

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EricMelissaNico, Eric's son

A Marriage of Accusations

Eric claims that for the past two years, he has been “living a nightmare,” because his now-estranged wife, Melissa, has been making false accusations against him, including rape, kidnapping and abuse. “My wife is trapped between two different people,” he says. “She has such a good side about her, but she also has another part that’s broken.”

He says in 2012, he began videotaping most of his interactions with Melissa to keep a record. He also claims that she has used photographs against him. He says that during one argument, Melissa took his car keys and put them in her purse, and when he pulled on the bag, she fell and got a bloody lip. “I didn’t realize that she took pictures and, later on, was using them against me,” he says. “She would put them on Facebook whenever she got mad at me. She would text my friends and say, ‘See how Eric really is?’ She would try to alienate me from my friends.”

Melissa completely disagrees and says Eric is to blame and needs to take responsibility for his actions. She says she has taken out two temporary restraining orders against him and that she dropped the last one because he threatened her. “He told me he would kill my son [from a previous relationship] if I didn’t drop the restraining orders,” she claims.

See some of Melissa and Eric’s videotaped confrontations, including the time he says she hit him with his car.

Hear why Melissa says she’s the real victim and that Eric needs to take ownership of the situation. How does Eric respond?

Dr. Phil weighs in on Eric and Melissa's arguments. “You two sound like children.”

No-Show Guest

The day before the Dr. Phil taping, Melissa checked herself into a Los Angeles hospital for medical problems that she claimed were caused by stress from the situation with Eric. Then, she requested an early release, went to “go get a tan” — and she never returned to tape the show. She later told Dr. Phil staff, via text, that she was at an airport in San Francisco and planned to fly back home, because she was too afraid to appear onstage with Eric.

Dr. Phil attempts to call Melissa — will she answer? And, hear text messages from Melissa about leaving before the show taped.

Eric admits that his behavior is not always perfect. “Do I yell? Absolutely,” he says, adding, “I have never crossed the line of raping, kidnapping.”

In a previous interview, Melissa says, “I know that I’m not perfect, but there is nothing I can do to fix Eric. Honestly, I wish him the best in the world, but I am so tired of being blamed for everything.” She says she has filed for divorce.

Eric’s 20-year-old son, Nico, lived with Melissa and Eric throughout their two-year marriage and says that Melissa often lashes out against people who are closest to her. “I have, at this moment, zero trust, zero respect, zero compassion for her,” he says. “I really hope that she does get the help that she says she wants.” He also denies that his father is abusive.

How does Eric explain having four women from his past filing temporary restraining orders against him?

Dr. Phil viewers weigh in. And, Dr. Phil offers Eric advice — and has a message for Melissa. “The toxic element that you can control is you.”